Ars calculates the size of the DualShock 4 touchpad: about 2.1” x 1”

Enlarge / You should really "Click to Enlarge" to see the details in our calculation boxes.

Sony / Kyle Orland

In unveiling the new PlayStation 4 and its DualShock 4 controller tonight, Sony notably neglected to include any information about the precise size of that new touchpad sitting front and center on the face of the redesigned controller. But we didn't let that stop us. Using publicly available information and press photos of the controller, Ars has been able to generate an estimate of that touchpad's size: 52-54mm (2.04"-2.12") across and 23-29mm (0.9"-1.14") high.

Here's how we did it (if you want to check our math, feel free):

We started with the high-quality front-facing image of the controller posted by Sony on its Flickr stream (and shown above). The controller portion of this photo is approximately 1428 x 898 pixels.

We know from press materials released by Sony tonight that the DualShock 4 currently measures 162mm x 98mm (with a depth of 52mm). Using a little math, we can figure out that one pixel in this image is anywhere from .1091 (based on the widths) to .1134 millimeters (based on the heights). This means the height/width ratios in the controller and our cropped image don't match precisely, but they're close enough for government work.

Tracing out the precise touchpad area on the image was a little tricky, because it's not totally clear where the touchpad ends on any side. As you can see in the image above, there's a small bezel on the sides and bottom of the touchpad area that may or may not be touch-sensitive. On the top edge, it's also not entirely clear where the touch sensitive area ends and the LED "light" area begins. A series of faint dots on the touchpad suggests a natural border, but we can't be sure that the touch-sensitive material doesn't extend any higher.

Taking all of that into account, we traced two rectangles on the original image: one outlining what seemed to be the minimum possible touchpad area and another tracing its potential maximum. These rectangles measured 460 x 210 pixels and 478 x 265 pixels, respectively.

Using our per-pixel conversions from the first two steps, we get these estimated touchpad size ranges (all rounded to the nearest millimeter for simplicity):

The diagonal "screen size" of the touchpad is 57mm (2.24") for the small box and 61mm (2.4") for the big box.

The surface area of the touchpad is 1196mm2 (1.84in2) for the small box and 1566mm2 (2.42in2) for the big box.

For simplicity, none of these measurements take into account the small "rounded corners" at the bottom of the touchpad area or the curved back top of the "big box." Calculating these effects is left as an exercise for the reader.

Sony has made it clear that the specs for all of the PS4 hardware are subject to change at any time, so this information might not even be valid by the time the PS4 launches. There's also some margin of error here, of course, owing to the vagaries of estimating sizes based on photos and accurate cropping.

Still, it gives a good rough idea of the usable area we're talking about here, which is a decent bit smaller than most smartphone touchscreens (which range from a 3.5" diagonal for the iPhone 4S to a 6.1" diagonal for one of Huawei's "phablets"). It's also much smaller than the 5" or so diagonal trackpad on the 13" Macbook Air, and obviously much smaller that the Wii U's 6.2" diagonal GamePad screen (which is an entirely different animal, to be sure). Keep these numbers in mind the next time you imagine playing Angry Birds on your super-high-powered, next-generation living room console.

Speaking as the person who designed the Editor's Pick system, using it this way was fully one of the intended uses from the beginning. A reader asks a good question, the author responds, and the Ed Pick system is used to append the question and response to the end of the story. Then everyone reading gets the benefit of something Ars does that not every publication follows: story authors taking the time to interact directly with readers.

The touchpad is a great idea, but I think they're going to regret not having a small LCD screen behind it, so they can display stuff to touch, and identify touch areas. Even if it wasn't super hi-res, or capable of sophisticated rendering, it would have made that touchpad a lot more valuable.

the console controller in its current incarnation is getting way too crowded. I was hoping for a complete redesign. It's time for one since they are trying to make the controller o more than originally intended. I'm hoping developers actually start giving users the option of using a KB+M in addition to the controller. I have a hell of a time using them in FPS's but love it for controlling vehicles.

I would have been happy with just more buttons, like function keys along the top. You could assign them to bring up different kit loadouts in an RPG or something. Things you do during quieter parts of a game.

Waiting for someone to have a slide out keypad. I like the little keyboards that plug into the XBox controllers. Build that in standard somehow, and the devs will use it.

The "Exclusive" label does seem excessive and inaccurate. I was expecting a diagram of the controller that came straight from Sony, or at least a statement straight from Sony giving you the dimensions of the touchpad.

This is a fair point. I was trying to signify that we did some actual work in calculating the size, but the "exclusive" label went a bit too far in that. The new headline better reflects the content of the story, I think.

There are definitely some products where swype type gestures are useful, and so many developers these days are "touch minded" that I could see some good scroll-type implementations. But i'm not sure they'd be THAT much better than using trigger or shoulder buttons for fast scroll. It will be interesting to see how it's used since it's not in a super convenient position.

I can't imagine that the controller will see a significant jump in cost over current gen ones, maybe a couple bucks, but unless they decide to price gouge on it I think its safe to say it won't be uh... like a wii-u pad

I don't think the touchpad is a bad thing, and if developers find some creative ways to use it as they have on the Vita, it might be of benefit. I also don't think that it needs to be an LCD screen either.

It would be nice though, if the production pad had the PS button logo design on it, like the Vita's rear touch pad.

The "Exclusive" label does seem excessive and inaccurate. I was expecting a diagram of the controller that came straight from Sony, or at least a statement straight from Sony giving you the dimensions of the touchpad.

Let's see; original content derived and published by ARS, yep that sounds pretty exclusive to me.Bravo for a bit of actual investigative reporting. It's not huge, but it's a proper example of digging for facts that weren't readilly available.

Because it answers a question quite a few may have before getting to the comments

If only they had the power to update the article...

Aurich wrote:

Speaking as the person who designed the Editor's Pick system, using it this way was fully one of the intended uses from the beginning. A reader asks a good question, the author responds, and the Ed Pick system is used to append the question and response to the end of the story. Then everyone reading gets the benefit of something Ars does that not every publication follows: story authors taking the time to interact directly with readers.

Sound idea, and bravo for that, but if that's the case, it should be renamed.

Let's see; original content derived and published by ARS, yep that sounds pretty exclusive to me.Bravo for a bit of actual investigative reporting. It's not huge, but it's a proper example of digging for facts that weren't readilly available.

It cheapens the entire idea of an "exclusive".

Quote:

Exclusive: Possibly the most misused word in journalism, and one that should be used only when an interview subject submits to questioning by your news organization and no other, often on specific topic (Lance Armstrong’s chat with Oprah qualifies as an exclusive). The Oxford English Dictionary defines “exclusive” as something “in which others have no share, esp. of journalistic news or other published matter.”

They could post an article giving a behind the scenes look at the Ars offices, and they could call it an "exclusive", but that would mean nothing.

Kyle Orland wrote:

lordcheeto wrote:

jbrodkin wrote:

????????

The "Exclusive" label does seem excessive and inaccurate. I was expecting a diagram of the controller that came straight from Sony, or at least a statement straight from Sony giving you the dimensions of the touchpad.

This is a fair point. I was trying to signify that we did some actual work in calculating the size, but the "exclusive" label went a bit too far in that. The new headline better reflects the content of the story, I think.

I suspect this is the author covering up for writing something that could have been a useful line in the actual review of the controller. Its fine and all that you can use basic math to figure out the size of the touchpad, but does this really warrant an entire article? I'm sure that's not what he's paid for...

Wait, a journalist actually did some research and analysis to find out new information instead of spouting endless paraphrases of press releases and now that's a bad thing? This is exactly what he's paid to do: use the tools at his disposal to find new information to share with his readers.

Of course. But does it really warrant a whole separate article? And what is the worth of the "exclusive" label on something as trivial as this?

It will be interesting to see how it's used since it's not in a super convenient position.

I can see it being used as a minimap, or quick inventory. I won't say it's better than being on-screen before I get a chance to test it, but it would be more realistic to have to look down at your hands to check a map.

It will be interesting to see how it's used since it's not in a super convenient position.

I can see it being used as a minimap, or quick inventory. I won't say it's better than being on-screen before I get a chance to test it, but it would be more realistic to have to look down at your hands to check a map.

I think this will run in the same kind of problem as the Nintendo DS, namely, switching between the conventional buttons and touchscreen. But perhaps the DS problem was one of (feeling?) being obligated to use the touch pad, leading to awkward use.

I think using it as combination minimap and important stats would be ideal, freeing up screen space, or perhaps even removing all HUD elements to the controller, giving a greater feeling of immersion in the game, as well as a more movie-like atmosphere.

I am going to go out on a limb here (having not read all of the current comments) and say that, based on a previous posting that i have read regarding more social gaming on PS4; the touch-space may be for a digital keypad.

Kyle Orland / Kyle is the Senior Gaming Editor at Ars Technica, specializing in video game hardware and software. He has journalism and computer science degrees from University of Maryland. He is based in Pittsburgh, PA.